In House of the Dragon, fashion is a powerful thing. Look no further than Alicent Hightower all but declaring civil war with one green dress, which led to the court splitting into camps of the Greens (those who support Alicent) and the Blacks (those who support Rhaenyra).
But what about the smaller accessories? The masks, crowns, and more of House of the Dragon speak just as loudly as the colors characters wear. When presented with an admirable collection of shiny new fantasy accessories, there’s only one thing to do: rank them from worst to best.
I’ve chosen 15 of the most prominent accessories featured in Season 1 of House of the Dragon in order to crown one overall winner. All of these pieces are deeply associated with a character, important to the plot, or just have ridiculously awesome vibes. Full disclosure: In my ranking system, vibes tend to win out over everything. You have been warned, just in case your favorite accessory didn’t make the cut. Here, from worst to best, are the House of the Dragon accessories, ranked.
The ‘House of the Dragon’ finale, explained
Dishonorable mention: Criston Cole’s disguise hat
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
This hat is by no means a staple of Ser Criston Cole’s wardrobe, but boy did it give me a major chuckle when it appeared in episode 9. One, it’s not a particularly nice hat, and two, it’s an awful disguise! Did Criston just grab whichever hat screamed “peasant,” throw it on his head, and think, “Yeah, that should do it”? Sorry to break it to you, Criston, but even a hat won’t disguise your very punchable face.
15. Otto Hightower’s hand pin
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
The pin worn by the Hand of the King comes with a lot of historical weight, making it one of the most important accessories in the show. However, we’ve seen it before in Game of Thrones, so it’s nothing super new. Dropping it to the bottom of the list is the fact that notorious schemer Otto Hightower wears the pin for most of the show. You will never be Ned Stark, Otto! Although you’re savvy and dishonorable enough to outlive him, I’ll give you that.
14. Alicent Hightower’s necklaces
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
While I can’t count “the color green” (which we all know Alicent owns) as an accessory, I can count the seven-pointed star necklaces she wears once she becomes queen. They aren’t always noticeable, but they serve as reminders of her faith to the Seven. Unfortunately, the seven-pointed stars, paired with the Hightowers’ redecoration of the Red Keep with religious paraphernalia, give off more of a religious fundamentalist vibe than anything else. I may not love Alicent’s jewelry, but her dresses? Great gowns, beautiful gowns.
13. Daemon Targaryen’s crown
Credit: Ollie Upton
When Daemon makes his grand return to King’s Landing after killing the Crabfeeder, he comes wearing a very peculiar crown. No gold or iron for the King of the Narrow Sea: This is a crown made of driftwood. Sustainable! Daemon doesn’t wear it for long, as he gives it to Viserys in a show of loyalty, but in the little time we get with it, it makes quite a striking impression. Still, I have questions. Did Daemon get someone to make this for him? Or, even better, did he partake in a little arts and crafts session on the dragon ride back from the Stepstones?
12. Aemma Arryn’s ring
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
We don’t see much of Aemma Arryn’s ring — a simple gold ring with an Arryn falcon design — but the few times we do, it packs a tearful punch. Viserys kisses it after Aemma dies during a traumatic and fatal C-section (which he ordered, to be clear). Later, in episode 6, we see him holding it and kissing it again after he learns of Rhaenyra’s departure to Dragonstone, remembering her mother and the horrible way she died. Throughout that episode, you can also see Rhaenyra wearing a small gold ring that I’m pretty sure is Aemma’s. If so, that means that when she left for Dragonstone, she gave it to her father as a memento. Such a small thing, to carry such deep emotional meaning.
11. Aegon II Targaryen’s crown
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
When Aegon II is crowned King of Westeros, he doesn’t don the gold crown of his father Viserys. Instead, he wears the iron crown of his namesake, Aegon the Conqueror. To its credit, the crown itself strikes a nice balance between royal and intimidating. But the fact that the crown was placed on a usurper’s head during a coup docks it many, many places. Aegon II can’t hold a candle to Aegon I, and he most definitely doesn’t deserve his crown.
10. Rhaenys Targaryen’s Bump-It
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
Remember Bump-Its, the inserts you put under your hair to give it unnatural volume? Well, Rhaenys is wearing whatever the Westerosi equivalent of that is, because her hair is lifted off her head. It makes for an extra striking hairdo, one that evokes the crown she never wore as the Queen Who Never Was. Also, as with Daemon’s Driftwood Craft Session, I just love the image of Rhaenys clipping some kind of Bump-It into her hair. Whatever she’s doing, it’s working.
Rhaenys literally smashes the patriarchy to win ‘House of the Dragon’ MVP
9. Larys Strong’s cane
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
Kinslaying creep Larys Strong uses his cane as both a mobility aid and an opportunity for personal branding. The cane’s pommel is adorned with a firefly. That’s not the sigil of House Strong — it’s his own personal sigil. Larys may be the snakiest of snakes, but I appreciate his commitment to branching out from his family and creating a sinister public image for himself. You know what I don’t appreciate? Him killing his family and degrading Alicent. Bad Larys. (Cool cane, though.)
8. Viserys and Rhaenyra Targaryen’s crown
Credit: Olli Upton / HBO
The third and final crown on this list is the one worn by Viserys and later gifted to Rhaenyra by Ser Erryk Cargyll. Originally worn by King Jaehaerys, this crown easily takes the top “crown” spot on the list. Not only do we spend the most time with it on screen, but we also see it get passed down to Rhaenyra in the season finale. Watching the rightful Queen of Westeros take up her father’s crown is the result of 10 episodes of buildup, and the moment is cathartic despite the warlike circumstances. Erryk also deserves major praise for pulling off what must have been quite the heist.
7. Daemon Targaryen’s murder cloak
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
Daemon knows how to accessorize for any occasion, but he pays extra attention when he’s plotting something nefarious. Whether he’s dispatching his first wife Rhea Royce or organizing the “death” of Laenor Velaryon, you can bet he’s wearing his trusty murder cloak. The cloak’s dramatic flair is often imitated — looking at you, Aemond — but never replicated.
6. Viserys Targaryen’s Valyrian steel dagger
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
Turns out the Valyrian steel dagger that Arya Stark used to kill the Night King in Game of Thrones has quite the illustrious Targaryen history. As Viserys shows Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon‘s first episode, text on the dagger outlines Aegon the Conqueror’s prophetic dream, which he calls “the Song of Ice and Fire.” The dagger is also the center of one of the season’s tensest scenes: Alicent’s attempt to take out Lucerys’s eye in retribution for Aemond’s. A cool-looking dagger that proves crucial to the plot? That’s a great accessory, right there.
‘House of the Dragon’ had 1 neatly packaged moment for ‘Game of Thrones’ fans
5. Daemon Targaryen’s sword, Dark Sister
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
Joining the Valyrian steel dagger in the “cool weapons club” is Daemon’s sword, named Dark Sister. House of the Dragon doesn’t delve into the blade’s history that much, but it is one of two ancestral Targaryen swords. Aegon the Conqueror’s sister (and wife) Visenya wielded it in the conquest of Westeros. Now, Daemon uses it to take down the Crabfeeder and slice the heads off of anyone who speaks out against Rhaenyra — clearly, it’s still sharp.
4. Rhaenyra Targaryen’s necklace
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
In episode 1, Daemon gifts Rhaenyra with a Valyrian steel necklace, so that she can carry a piece of their ancestral land with her. Rhaenyra takes to wearing the necklace everywhere, highlighting her connection to — and later love of — Daemon. I don’t love the incest, but I do love the foreshadowing power of jewelry.
3. The Crabfeeder’s mask
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
Craghas Drahar, aka the Crabfeeder, was House of the Dragon‘s first major villain, and he set the bar high. Sure, we didn’t know much about him, but we did know about his gnarly habit of leaving vanquished soldiers out on the beach for the crabs to eat, and honestly, that’s good enough for me. Adding to his mystique was his gold horned mask, which you might recognize as a Sons of the Harpy mask from Game of Thrones. It may have hidden his true identity, but it crafted a villainous persona for the ages.
2. Viserys Targaryen’s gold mask
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
Viserys takes a page from the Crabfeeder’s book in episode 8 of House of the Dragon, when he shows up to court wearing a gold half-mask. As we see later in the episode, the mask is covering the rotting side of his face and his empty eye socket — a truly beautiful solution for a very gnarly problem. Even Viserys actor Paddy Considine acknowledged the true dramatic power of the mask: in a behind-the-scenes video, he struts around the Throne Room in his mask, twirling his cane and proclaiming he’s “serving Targaryen realness.” He is, and it looks awesome.
1. Aemond Targaryen’s sapphire and eye patch combo
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
The absolute best and coolest accessory in House of the Dragon is a two for one. Aemond Targaryen loses his eye as a boy and decides, “You know what? I’m going to take this as an opportunity for maximum drama.” He stalks around King’s Landing in an elegant leather eye patch, striking fear into the hearts of all who look at him.
But wait, there’s more! As the finale reveals, there’s an extra-special something under that eye patch: an icy blue sapphire. That’s right, Aemond has casually been hiding a precious stone in his eye socket for entire episodes, just waiting for the perfect moment to reveal it. The man understands dramatic timing, and the payoff is glorious. Take a bow, Aemond. That is how you accessorize. Here’s hoping you can kick off a new Westerosi fashion trend where everyone dresses like spooky bejeweled pirates.
Season 1 of House of the Dragon is now streaming HBO Max.
